IWC

Founded In 1868, by American watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones as the “International Watch Co.” in Schaffhausen Switzerland. It was a time before the Swiss had dominated the industry and American and Swiss manufacturers were competing for business and innovation. His plan was to bring together modern progressive American mechanised production techniques with the skilled craftsmanship for which Swiss watchmakers were renowned.

And it was in Schaffhausen that he found ideal conditions: modern factory premises, a hydropower plant driven by the Rhine to run his machines and, not least, a centuries-old horological tradition. The company’s excellent reputation was established right from the start with the very first Jones calibre named after its founder. In 1885, IWC demonstrated its innovative spirit in the Pallweber pocket watches, with their revolutionary digital display for hours and minutes. The end of the 19th century saw the appearance of IWC’s first wristwatches featuring the 64-calibre pocket watch movement.

Today as one of the world’s leading Luxury watch brands, IWC creates masterpieces of haute horlogerie, which combine engineering and precision with exclusive design. The reputation of the brand is founded not least on the fact that its highly qualified employees master every step of the production process behind in-house movements and complications such as the minute repeater, the tourbillon and the perpetual calendar.